In Remembrance of the little guys without whom the hero's would never have been hero's.

Ode to the Flight Mechanic

Lords of the air they call them

They speak of our opposing fame

The front page of every newspaper

Is endorsed with some pilot’s name

Connected with some deed of valour

Performed by the men in the sky

The usual Henkels or Dornier’s

Come crashing to the earth to die!

There is one chap who gets no medals

You never hear his name

He does not fly in the pale blue sky

Or pose in the news for fame

His job cannot be called romantic

And he’s not in the people’s eye

But our hero’s cannot do without him

And I’ll tell you the reason why

He inspects the kite every morning

And he fills the tank every night

He keeps it running smoothly

And all the pressures right

He’s up at the break on dawn

And he’s there till twilight fades

Pulling his weight at the rear of the crate

Helping to spread the raids

So next time you see some picture

Of a pilot and smiling crew

Remember the bloke who keeps them above

Though he’s only an AC2

And next time you praise a pilot

As the enemy falls a wreck

Keep your mind on the bloke you don’t know

Who answers to the name of Flight Mech

Written by my Dad and his mates while training with the RAF at the beginning of WW2 Dad went on to serve with the RAF in India, training the new Indian Air force, before being demobed in 1947. He spent a lifetime working with aircraft, being a flight Inspector with British Aerospace, clearing the Red Arrows to fly following service and working on air craft such as the Vulcan's and Harriers. He came home from the war, like so many others, he never forgot. I can always remember when watching the Red Arrows display, he would remind us that with out his stamp on the paperwork they would not have even got off the ground. So never forget the little man, he may be just the man you need when your in a tight spot!